Letters

Residents against Council merger

THE Barry and District News and Penarth Times website reported that a poll of 600 residents in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan revealed “strong opposition to Welsh Government plans for a merger”. What the report failed to say was who conducted the poll; who commissioned it; what questions were asked, and how 608 responses out of a population of more than 472,000 were selected? The conclusion drawn from this ‘survey’ was that almost two thirds opposed the proposal to merge Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan councils.

I am told that the information was supplied by the office of Andrew RT Davies AM which may explain why the only comments included were from “Vale resident, regional AM, Andrew RT Davies”.

People need to take some care with the information being presented to them, the scare-stories put forward by a few councillors, and the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s vote agreeing that they are doing a great job and should be left alone. Some people feel councillors have a pecuniary (financial) interest in the outcome of this proposal and I have submitted a complaint to the council on this matter.

Better to look at some real evidence.

Just consider how you feel Barry has changed since the creation of the Vale Council in 1974 and then compare that to Cardiff. A dynamic capital city with public and private investment creating many attractions in the city and bay areas; a wonderful theatre; rugby, football, athletics and cricket arenas; a sports village; water activities; fantastic shopping; leisure activities, and a good place to live.

In addition, we have far too many councillors in Wales when compared with Scotland, and the proposal is to reduce the 122 councillors in Cardiff and the Vale to 75. Population wise that should mean 20 councillors from the Vale, i.e. 27 less than at present.